Moon Planting

[A Life Less Simple]

Ok, I know a little bit about this but am interested in finding out more, can anyone help?

I think (very) basicly you sow seeds at the full moon to get stronger plants and better crops, is it really as simple as that?

[wellie]

I'd be happy to.
Ask away to your heart's content, and I'll try and help at every stage of your learning.
I'm hugely interested too, and I have contacts who are growing every single day of the year to this method of growing.
Good on you A Life Less Simple - High Five! Way to Go!
X

[Alison]

Don't know much about it either and certainly not enough to work out whether there's something in it or it's a load of mumbo jumbo. However do know that I find it hard enough to find time to do all the jobs that I need to do already without having to put more constraints on myself. Always interested to see how it works out for other folks though.

[Snadger]

"By the light"..............altogether now....." of the silvery moon"..............

Not a believer I'm afraid,(read a book on it once!) and waaaaay too complicated! (It had joined up letters, Lol)

If it's what rocks your boat though, go for it!

[BrideXIII]

well the stuff i have read online, all this when to plant this and not that etc, was way to complicated for me, but I do try to plant on a waxing moon, harvest from full onwards, and dig up on a dark moon.

[Demeter]

I think someone here (zazen) is doing moon trials this year - is that the same thing?

As for me, it all sounds vaguely interesting, but not very scientific and like Alison says it's hard enough getting all the jobs done as it is without worrying about the blessed moon...

[Snadger]

From what I've read it's all to do with the the moons pull on water molecules within the soil......similar to the tides! I think it was re-developed by one of the head gardeners at a famous hall.......who's name I can't remember!
I say re-developed because supposedly our Pagan forefathers were well into it!

[BrideXIII]

From what I've read it's all to do with the the moons pull on water molecules within the soil......similar to the tides! I think it was re-developed by one of the head gardeners at a famous hall.......who's name I can't remember!
I say re-developed because supposedly our Pagan forefathers were well into it!

well they would have had to have been, the moon and its various stages was their only proper calendar, they would certainly have counted months by the full moons of which there are 13 in a year , and then sown and reaped by those.

[Demeter]

well they would have had to have been, the moon and its various stages was their only proper calendar, they would certainly have counted months by the full moons of which there are 13 in a year , and then sown and reaped by those.

Just cos they counted months by the moon doesn't mean they necessarily cropped by the moon - we don't crop by what the calendar says so why should they?!

Having said that, there certainly are many important pagan beliefs surrounding the moon. The waxing moon is associated with growth, and the full moon with ripeness, while the waning moon is associated with loss and decay, and the new moon with death and rebirth. So it would make sense, from a religious point of view I mean, to plant when the moon is waxing, harvest when it is full or as it wanes, and to dig and prepare the ground in what is in effect the moon's symbolic winter.

I reckon that water molecule stuff sounds like a pseudo-scientific attempt to explain something that arises out of non-scientific belief system. Which doesn't mean it doesn't work, of course - there's more things in heaven and earth than us mere mortals can hope to understand...

[Jimmy]

I have not looked in to this much. Like most people I have grown up and gone through the education system that indoctrinates you into beliving that "science" is infallabe. ( Pity the spelling didn't stick)
So at first glance, I like many people, might poo poo the idea.
However given the moon causes the whole ocean to rise by at least 10 foot then the chances are it might have an effect on other things.
Just because science can't explain it usually means they ignore it or even worse call people stupid. Don't forget scientists of their time though the world was flat, so they know a thing or two.
If you ever hear the words "Trust me I am a scientist it's safe" then on the sixth word you should be 10 yards away and accelerating fast.
Perhaps I wandered off the point, sorry !

[Jimmy]

As a final point, what will happen when we get Eco spheres on the moon. How will they proceed, Earth Planting?

[Stacey Steve]

As I seem to fail misarably at growing decent carrots, I suggested I would sow the next lot naked under a full moon but OH said it would upset the wildlife but then again she said she would love to hear a fox laugh!

[Rodley]

I went to one of our large horticultural/agricultural suppliers here in France yesterday...and there on the payout counter were a pile of 2009 books/calendar about growing vegetables by the moon. This thread has got me interested. I didn't buy one...but might next time I go in

[zazen999]

Yes, I am doing trials.

Moon Gardening:
The crops are divided into 4 types, root, leaf, flower and fruit. Then, depending on which phase of the moon - you do different types on different days. So, taking garlic chives for instance. I am growing some for their flowers, so if I wanted the best crop, I would sow next saturday, as it's a flower day. If I wanted if for the leaves, I'd sow today.

Today is a leaf day, and so was yesterday. I had planned on sowing alot of leaves but got waylaid and so I can still sow them today, if I was 100% moon. If I get waylaid today, I have until 5pm tomorrow; but if I miss that, I'd still sow them as I'm not 100% moon, like others I do stuff when I get time but I do try and plan it so that Im doing things on the correct day. I harvest when things are ready.

It doesn't mean doing anything at night, or howling when you plant stuff out. Well, it's optional I suppose [if that's your bag].

All I'm doing is trialling Gardening by the Moon, I can't say fairer than that.

My tomato trial was a good result, if you are going by the result from number of seeds sown a 46% increase in yield. If you are going by the number of plants that made it to harvest, the results are less favourable, but still a 10% increase overall.

My lettuces ALL bolted, the non-moon ones before the moon ones.

The onions were shaded out by the lettuces and didn't do much, some disappeared whilst we were on holiday.

The Calabrese are still growing, and the non-moon ones are doing better than the moon ones - well, they are bigger but only time will tell the final crops that come from them.

My current trial is Garlic, 25 moon and 25 non-moon - all planted out on different phases between Sept to Dec; results available next year. all will be in the ground for the same number of moon phases.

[tootles]

I went to one of our large horticultural/agricultural suppliers here in France yesterday...and there on the payout counter were a pile of 2009 books/calendar about growing vegetables by the moon. This thread has got me interested. I didn't buy one...but might next time I go in

I got one last year - but am ashamed to say that I didn't really follow it.
I will certainly try harder next year, all of the locals swear by it.
Anything that tells me when to do stuff is a good idea in my opinion! Although I did find the 'don't garden after 6am' on somedays a little bizarre.